Traditional gingerbread goodies are given the modern treatment in this delectable book featuring 15 projects to make, eat or display.
The making and decorating of gingerbread houses has long been synonymous with the coming of Christmas, and the tradition has never gone out of fashion. In recent years the design and painstaking creation of gingerbread structures has gone beyond the traditional cottage, with users on Pinterest seeking inspiration for the making of gingerbread cities, skyscrapers and even sugar-glazed gingerbread greenhouses.
Modern Gingerbread seeks to tap into, and lead, the trend for contemporary gingerbread baking and decorating, and lauded cake-maker Sandra Monger is full of terrific ideas for gingerbread projects, from decorative gingerbread tiles and wreaths to a Norwegian Kransekake delicately crafted from rings of gingerbread. The pièce de resistance in Modern Gingerbread is Sandra's gingerbread-embellished wedding cake, which will no doubt prove a show-stopper for any budding baker.
The 15 gingerbread projects included in the book are accompanied by templates, and recipes for traditional, colored and free-from gingerbread are also featured.
UK baker/designer Monger shows readers the many creations possible from seasonal-standard gingerbread dough. For starters, there are different colors for the dough, mega royal-icing piping choices, and even shapes and cutouts to bake. Secondly, this is truly an artisan’s how-to, with Monger's explanations for the concept of fusion (such as by inlaying dough in part of the prebaked item) and using appliqué as a decorative touch. Though complete directions along with step-by-step photographs are featured upfront in a lengthy introductory chapter, the 15 projects are still daunting for a novice, even for experienced bakers. Tips are sprinkled throughout and templates follow the "bakes and cakes." Nonetheless, all are beautifully executed and inspirational, like cookie favors as name tags, a gingerbread street, gift boxes, and a new take on the Scandinavian holiday cake (kransekake) with overlapping concentric rings. Includes templates and conversion charts. — Barbara Jacobs Booklist 2020
In 2000, Sandra Monger left her job as a registered nurse to follow her life-long passion for baking and cake decoration. She studied an array of sugarcraft courses under the tutelage of sugarcraft guru Stephen Benison, and in 2002 established her own business: Sandra Monger Exquisite Wedding and Occasion Cakes. Sandra became the City of Bath’s leading wedding and celebration cake designer and the recommended supplier to some of the leading venues in the South West UK. Sandra began teaching sugarcraft at Wiltshire College in 2007. She also designed and ran a range of popular sugarcraft and cake decoration courses at the City of Bath College as well as running her successful business.
In 2012, Sandra was named Celebration Cake Maker of the Year at the British Baking Industry Awards. Sandra’s first book, ‘Using Cutters on Cakes’, was published by Search Press in 2014.
Traditional gingerbread goodies are given the modern treatment in this delectable book featuring 15 projects to make, eat or display.
The making and decorating of gingerbread houses has long been synonymous with the coming of Christmas, and the tradition has never gone out of fashion. In recent years the design and painstaking creation of gingerbread structures has gone beyond the traditional cottage, with users on Pinterest seeking inspiration for the making of gingerbread cities, skyscrapers and even sugar-glazed gingerbread greenhouses.
Modern Gingerbread seeks to tap into, and lead, the trend for contemporary gingerbread baking and decorating, and lauded cake-maker Sandra Monger is full of terrific ideas for gingerbread projects, from decorative gingerbread tiles and wreaths to a Norwegian Kransekake delicately crafted from rings of gingerbread. The pièce de resistance in Modern Gingerbread is Sandra's gingerbread-embellished wedding cake, which will no doubt prove a show-stopper for any budding baker.
The 15 gingerbread projects included in the book are accompanied by templates, and recipes for traditional, colored and free-from gingerbread are also featured.
Praise
UK baker/designer Monger shows readers the many creations possible from seasonal-standard gingerbread dough. For starters, there are different colors for the dough, mega royal-icing piping choices, and even shapes and cutouts to bake. Secondly, this is truly an artisan’s how-to, with Monger's explanations for the concept of fusion (such as by inlaying dough in part of the prebaked item) and using appliqué as a decorative touch. Though complete directions along with step-by-step photographs are featured upfront in a lengthy introductory chapter, the 15 projects are still daunting for a novice, even for experienced bakers. Tips are sprinkled throughout and templates follow the "bakes and cakes." Nonetheless, all are beautifully executed and inspirational, like cookie favors as name tags, a gingerbread street, gift boxes, and a new take on the Scandinavian holiday cake (kransekake) with overlapping concentric rings. Includes templates and conversion charts. — Barbara Jacobs Booklist 2020
In 2000, Sandra Monger left her job as a registered nurse to follow her life-long passion for baking and cake decoration. She studied an array of sugarcraft courses under the tutelage of sugarcraft guru Stephen Benison, and in 2002 established her own business: Sandra Monger Exquisite Wedding and Occasion Cakes. Sandra became the City of Bath’s leading wedding and celebration cake designer and the recommended supplier to some of the leading venues in the South West UK. Sandra began teaching sugarcraft at Wiltshire College in 2007. She also designed and ran a range of popular sugarcraft and cake decoration courses at the City of Bath College as well as running her successful business.
In 2012, Sandra was named Celebration Cake Maker of the Year at the British Baking Industry Awards. Sandra’s first book, ‘Using Cutters on Cakes’, was published by Search Press in 2014.
